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New Page 10
Senate passes Labour bill: Go on strike, risk
6 months jail
COSMAS EKPUNOBI,
Abuja
SENATE
yesterday passed into law the controversial Trade Union (Amendment) bill,
prescribing six months jail term for any striking worker who breached the law.
Aggrieved Senator Uche Chukwumerije
however stormed out of the Senate Chamber as he was rebuked by Senate President,
Adolphus Wabara over what he called his unparliamentary comment shortly after
the passage of the bill.
Sen. Chukwumerije said: "I congratulate
the Senate for the speedy passage of the bill, and I hope history will judge us"
(senators).
But the Senate President, who was visibly
angry over the comment, said I may compel you (Chukwumerije) to explain that
statement.
Enough is enough; the Senate President
warned. Passage of the bill followed the adoption of the report of the Committee
on Labour, which said yesterday that the law will help to reduce strike, anxiety
and tension, as well as make for a more balanced trade union movement in the
country, he added.
Only 36 out of 109 senators were present
at the chamber yesterday when the bill was passed into law, even as it was
observed that Senator Mohammed Abba Aji, who presented the committee’s report
was never a member of the Committee on Labour.
The Senate, however, overruled the
committee’s recommendation on sub-sections 6 and 7 and retained them as
originally presented by the executive.
Section 6 read: "No trade union or
registered federation of trade union by whatever name called shall embark on a
strike action unless upon a resolution passed by simple majority of the members
of the trade union or registered federation of trade union as the case may be,
approving the strike.
"No person, trade union or employer shall
take part in a strike or lockout or engage in any conduct in contemplation or
furtherance of a strike or lock out unless, the person, trade union or employer
is not engaged in the provision of essential services.
The Senate through an amendment of its
leader, Alhaji Dalhatu Tafida and Senator Jonathan Zwingina, prescribed six
months jail term for any person that violates any provision of the law.
The 10-section law allows the workers the
freedom to decide whether or not he wishes to become a member of a trade union,
and also to withdraw his membership if he wishes to do so without molestation or
intimidation.
The bill excludes workers and employers
engaged in the provision of essential service from going on strike, adding that
such workers risk six months imprisonment or an option of N10,000 fine.
According to the law, person embarking on
strike action should not victimize or intimidate or compel others to join or
abstain from work.
The Senate which yesterday suspended its
plenary session, for four weeks also commended President Olusegun Obasanjo for
his concern and desire to reduce the frequency of strike and the attendant
losses that the economy suffers."
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